Method of packaging and apparatus therefor



Sept, 8, 1931. F. L. DARLJNG METHOD 0F PACKAGING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed April 2, 1950 mm1 im i Patented Sept.. 8, 1931 .UNITED` STATES FRANK L. DARLING, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLANDQASSIGNOR T CROWN CORK & SEAL L PATENT OFFICE A,

COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,` A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD OF PACKAGING AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Application filed April 2,

This invention relates to a method of packaging and to apparatus therefor.

Many products, more particularly food products, are now packed in glass and the receptacles sealed with caps such for example, as the well-known crown type whichhas an interior cushion disc of cork or similar material. This and similar caps cooperate with the edge or lip of the bottle around its mouth, and this edge constitutes a sealing lip which coacts with the cushion material of the cap. During the filling operation, there is apt to be considerable dripping Vor spilling of the product onto the receptacle including the sealing lip thereof. This results inan unsatisfactory condition. If the product is of a syrupy or sticky nature, it often happens that the cap becomes, in time, so firmly stuck in place that it is almost impossible to remove it. If the product is of such character that seeds or other gritting matter adhere to the lip of the receptacle, under the cap, such gritty matter often becomes embedded in the sealing gasket. This may prevent a proper seal and result in a leaken Moreover, when the cap is removed the condition of the receptacle mouth is often somewhat foul and so objectionabley to the consumer.

It has been proposed to wash the receptacles after capping.V Such washing serves to clean the necks and bodies of the receptacles but it does not remedy the condition referred to, because the lip and shoulder of the receptable, being covered by the cap, are not affected.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of packaging such that leakers and unclean packages are avoided. It is a further object of the invention to *o provide an apparatus for effectively carrying out at least a portion of such method.

Vith these general objects in view, the invention consists in the method, features, combinations, details of construction and arrangements of parts which will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then more particularly pointed out.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View, partly in elevation and 1930. serial No. 440,879.

of the receptacle exposed. This may be accomplished for example, by a wedge-shaped plug, such as illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described. The sealing lip and rim of the receptacle mouth are then left exposed and .may be cleaned, for example, by washing, thereby yto remove any adhering product received during filling. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, for example, by subjecting the lip to water -j ets as hereinafter described.

After cleaning, the temporary closure is removed and the permanent closure, e. g., a crown cork, may be applied in the usual manner;

The drawings show an apparatus capable of carrying out part of the method described and forming, in itself, part of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is vprovided a temporary closure for a receptacle and means for applying and removing the same. This may be accomplished, for example, by mountingthe closure on a head and causing relative movement between the head and the supported receptacle. In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated as an example, the receptacle 5 is supported on a stationary table 6. Reciprocating to and from the supported receptacle is a bell-shaped head 7. Carried by thehead is a wedgey shaped plug 8, of rubber or other suitable material, capacitated to enter the mouth of the receptacle but to leave the lip exposed. The plug 8 is secured to a carrier 9 which floats in a recess 10 in the head. The carrier is impelled downwardly by a coil spring 11 and its normal position is lixed by a stop collar 12.

The stroke of the head and the relative position of the support are fixed for receptacles of a given standard size, e. g., pints. Vhen the head makes its down stroke, the plugenters the mouth of the receptacle and is checked, carrier 9 backing up against the spring until the plug is firmly wedged in place. Receptacles oit' a given standard size may have minor variations in height. The apparatus is designed -for the minimum height of the standardsize and any overheight in receptacles is compensated for by additional compression of spring 11.

The machine may be accommodated to receptacles of different standard sizes by changing the stroke of the head, or the relative position of the support, or both. For receptacles having ditlerent mouth diameters, plug 8 may be removed and a similar plug of diiilerent size substituted.

While the head 7 may be reciprocated in any suitable manner, in the embodiment here illustrated as an example, the head is secured by a nut 14 to a tube 15. This tube is connected by an arm 16, with a plunger 17 reciprocable in a frame bearing 1S. On the lower end of plunger 17 is a cam roller 19 riding on a earn 20. This cam is mounted on a rotary shaft 21 to which power may be applied in any suitable manner. Cam 20 is laid out to cause a given reeiprocation oi plunger 18 with a dwell at t-he end of the down stroke, whereby the head dwells in receptacle closing position long enough to allow for the washing operation hereinafter de* scribed.

There is provided means for supplying wash water to the lip of the receptacle and this may be accomplished by jets in the head, connected to a. source of water supply. As here shown as an example, `the head 7 is formed in two parts so related and assembled as to leave an annular channel23. EX- tending inwardly from this channel are a plurality ot diagonal bores 24 opeiiing into the interior of the head and forming an annular row of jets, These jets, as appears in Figure 3, are arranged to deliver streams or sprays of wash water onto the flat lip of the receptacle. Below this row of jets are three additional rows of similar jets 25, 26, 27, arranged to deliver streams or sprays in the manner illustratedin Figure 3. As there indicated, these several streams or sprays over lap more or less, with the result that the en tire area ot' the receptacle lip, rim and shoulder is subjected to a washing action.

Channel 23 opens into a chamber 30 in the upper part of the head and this chamber, in turn, communicates with tube 15. Tube 15 may be connected with any suitable source of wash water supply by means of a flexible hose 31. Thus the course of the water is down through tube 15 and chamber 30, thence into annular channel ..3 and out through the several jets.

There is provided a valve ior controlling the water tlow and in structures embodying the invention to what is now considered the best advantage, the valve is automatically operated in timed relation with the head movement so as to open only while the plug is in receptacle closing position. Although capable of various constructions, in that here shown as an example, in chamber 80 is a conw ical valve seat 32 which receives a conical valve 33. This valve has a stem 34 extending downwardly through recess 10 to engage carrier 9. The valve is normally held closed by a coil spring 85 engaging a collar 3G on the valve stem 34. Then the head descends, carrier 9 is checked by the engagement ot plug 8 with the bottle. Because of the engage* ment of valve stem 3l with the carrier, the valve is also checked. As the head continues downward, in completing its stroke, valve seat 32 moves away from the valve. hus, in effect, the valve is opened on the down stroke of the head after the bottle mouth is closed. The parts remain in this position while the cam flat is passing under the roller and during this dwell the flow ot wash water cleans the bottle lip and shoulder.

Then the head starts its rip-stroke, the

plug remains in the receptacle until car ier 9 is picked up by stop collar 12, slning 11 re-expanding. Meanwhile, however, valve seat 32 has moved up into contact with valve 33. Thus the valve is closed while the receptacle is still plugged and is thereafter held closed by spring 35. As the head continues its rlp-stroke, lug 8 is withdrawn from the receptacle anc the latter is ready for its permanent cap. y With the method and apparatus described, the permanent receptacle sea1 is applied to a clean lip, regardless of any product that may drop or spill during iilling. As a result, the various objectionable features above referred to are avoided.

That is claimed is:

1. The method of packaging i'ood and siu1i lar products in vessels oi the type havno4 a mouth provided with a narrow top sur'lacc around the mouth to 'form a sez .ling lip, comprising filling the receptacle. closing the month of the receptacle temporarily without abutting the top surface or sealing lip around the mouth whereby to leave the sealing lip thereof entirely exposed, washing the lip while the receptacle is so temporarilj,7 closed, removing the temporary closure and applying a permanent closure.

2. In apparatus oit the class described, and in combination, a support iior a receptacle, a closure plug proportioned to iit inside the mouth of the receptacle without abutting the top surface around the mouth whereby to leave entirely exposed the vessel sealing lip, means for inserting said plug in the receptacle mouth to close the same, and means for supplying wash water to the receptacle lip while the receptacle is so closed.

3. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a supportl for a receptacle, a wedge-shaped closure plug proportioned to close the mouth of the receptacle without abutting the top surface of the vessel around the mouth whereby to leave the sealing lip entirely exposed, means for forcing the plug into the mouth of the receptacle and thereafter removing the same, and means for supplying wash water to the lip of the receptacle while said plug is in receptacle-closing position.

4. In apparatus of the class described, and

in combination a receptacle support, a bellshaped head, a closure plug carried by the head proportioned to close the mouth of a receptacle while leaving the sealing lip thereof exposed, means for causing relative movement of the support and head, thereby to cause the plug to be inserted in the mouth of the receptacle, the head having water-jet Openings for supplying streams of wash water to the lip of the receptacle, and conduit means for connecting said openings with a source of wash water. n 5. In apparatus of the class described, and 1n combination, a receptacle support, a bellshaped head, a closure plug carried by the head proportioned to close the mouth of a receptacle while leaving the sealing lip thereof exposed, means for causing relative movement of the support and head, thereby to cause the plug to be inserted in the mouth of the receptacle, the head having water-jet openings for supplying streams of wash water to the lip of the receptacle, conduit means connecting said openings with a source of wash water, and automatically acting valve means for controlling the flow of wash water.

6. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a receptacle support, a bellshaped head, a closure plug carried by the head proportioned to close the mouth of a receptacle while leaving the sealing lip thereof exposed. means for causing relative movement of the support and head, thereby to cause the plug to be inserted in the mouth of the receptacle, the head having water-jet openings for supplying streams of wash water to the lip of the receptacle, conduit means for connecting said openings with a source of wash water, a valve for controlling the flow of wash water, and means whereby the valve is automatically opened after the plug has been inserted.

7 In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a receptacle support, a bellshaped head, a closure plug carried by the head proportioned to close the mouth of a receptacle while leaving the sealing lip thereof exposed, means .for causing relative movement of the support and head, thereby to cause the plug to be inserted in the mouth of the receptacle, and thereafter withdrawn, the head having water-jet openings for supplying streams of wash water to the lip of the receptacle, conduit means for connecting said openings with a source of wash water, a valve for controlling the flow of wash water, and means whereby the valve is opened after the plug is inserted and closed before the plug is withdrawn.

8. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a receptacle support, a movable head. a wedge-shaped closure plug carried by the head, the head having water-jet openings for supplying wash water to the lip of the receptacle, conduit means for connecting said openings with a source of wash water, a valve in said conduit means, means for reciprocating the head to and from the supported receptacle, whereby the plug is inserted in the mouth of the receptacle and thereafter withdrawn, and for eecting a dwell between the advance and withdrawal of the head, and means controlled by the movement of the head for opening and closing said valve.

9. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a receptacle support, a movable head, a wedge-shaped closure plug mounted in the head to float therein, a spring tending to hold the plug in normal position, means for moving the head toward the supported receptacle with a given stroke, whereby the plug is inserted in the mouth of the receptacle, the plug being checked, againstV spring pressure, during the latter part of the stroke of the head, the head having water-jet openings for supplying wash water to the lip ofthe receptacle, conduit means for connecting said openings with a source of wash water, a valve in said connection, and means for causing said valve to be opened by said checking of the plug.

10. In apparatus of the class described, and in combination, a support for a receptacle, a closure proportioned to close the mouth of the receptacle while leaving the sealing lip thereof exposed, means for effecting relative movement between the closure and receptacle support to close the receptacle mouth, and means for automatically supplying washing Huid to the receptacle lip when the. receptacle is so closed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand.

y FRANK L. DARLING. 

